The Last Teacher: A Stand-Alone Mackenzie Mystery

Mackenzie August #0.5

by Alan Lee

Mackenzie August is starting a new life. After a successful but destructive career as a high-profile California homicide detective, and then a less successful and even more destructive stint working for a church, he has moved to Virginia to start over as a teacher. The only thing he’s bringing with him is Kix, his infant baby boy. He plans for peaceful living with his son, but trouble soon finds him as his new co-workers begin showing up dead outside of his classroom.

The Sheriff’s Office is stumped, the teachers are scared, and hidden rifts within the county begin surfacing. The town turns to August for help, which he is compelled to provide after learning that evidence suggests he will be the next victim. August must survive entanglements with the small-time police force, a local drug dealer, and the young and aggressive brunette teaching across from him if he is to stop the mysterious killer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Ebooks, Amazon, Action

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2015

About the author

Your favorite mystery author for the next twenty years.

Reviews

[Suzan Myers]

Thoroughly enjoyed The Last Teacher by Alan Lee. Mackenzie August is intelligent and witty. Sarcasm abounds throughout the story. Especially related to Mack as a single parent, with his son being the number one priority in his life. Liked the fact that Mack maintained his moral standards in the face of danger, lust and a somewhat unsavory past.

Highly recommend this mystery for the smiles as well as the thrill.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the main character, an ex-homicide detective turned English teacher, a single Dad with a baby. To be honest, the mystery aspect wasn't that engrossing and the religious elements were a bit heavy for my liking although I realize it was integral to the story which is set in the Bible Belt.
However, the sarcasm and witty dialogue and Mac's relationship with his dad and his thoughts on teaching and life were enough to keep me glued to this. Very entertaining, very funny.

[Dylan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can officially say, I have not read a book this boring in a while. The Last Teacher started off promising; with an interesting cover, back blurb, and humorous opening I had high hopes for the story. But I noticed more and more that bothered me as the book went on.

Mack is a witty and sarcastic former detective. While he was good at his job, he spiraled after the death of his partner and many poor choices he has decided to get a grip on himself and take care of Kix, his son. I found myself enjoying his humor in the beginning of the novel, how it bordered on being a smartass. There was something relatable and honest to his character in that sense. However, it eventually began to grate my nerves with how Mack thought of himself as funny, and how he continuously repeated that sentiment. Humorous quips were written so often that I felt they lost their impact and gave the novel a monotone feel. After a while, nothing was funny anymore.

Besides being so sure of his humor, Mackenzie is incredibly sure of his looks. The book constantly stated how he thought of himself as attractive, or he was receiving looks from women because of his looks. He also is very noticeable of how others features and what they wear, this would help solidify his background as a detective — if he also wasn’t always giving commentary on how attractive those clothes and features made people, particularly women.

I debated if finishing the book was worthwhile when I realized many of the female characters were portrayed somewhat stereotypically. We have the hard ass principle, who reigns with an iron first and slicked back bun. If you imagine her wearing skirts and minimal makeup, you would be correct. And then there is Taylor, the sexy vamp that immediately wants to become physically involved with Mack and tries to flirt with him and trigger fights between any male around. Other women included vague, generic secretaries who thought he was cute, teachers who had crushes on him, and an older homely babysitter.

I had many thoughts about the overall writing of the work. There were details that did not make sense for scenes, particularly the phrasing of names. The names were not wrong, but they were oddly used. Who references a person by their first and last name when talking to the mother of that person? Who refers to their own father constantly by their first and last names? Towards the latter part of the novel I found punctuation errors, and even a few grammatical errors and typos. I also found several sentences that could have been reworded to be less stunted and repetitive.

One aspect that was incredibly overpowering was the prevalence of religion in the book. While I understand this novel is meant to take place along the Bible Belt, I have read other Southern mysteries with fewer references to God and religion. Morals and spiritual paths were discussed more than the murders and mysterious stalker. As far as the mystery aspect is concerned, it could easily be discerned who the killer was and what were red herrings.

The Last Teacher was flat with detached writing, and lacking the emotion, tension, thrills, and mystery elements that I was hoping for.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this prequel to the Mackenzie August private detective series was quite good, despite the fact that it was author Alan Lee’s first novel and he says he withheld it from publication until he substantially reworked it. I’ve enjoyed the first two “real” books in the series, and this one didn’t disappoint me either.

After having left his job as a homicide detective with the LAPD and working for a short while as a youth pastor, Mack takes a job as a middle school English teacher in the small town of South Hill, Virginia, about three hours away from his hometown of Roanoke. He’s hoping to escape the stresses and dangers of his days in law enforcement, but no such luck. Soon after he begins his teaching job, a fellow teacher is found dead, and there are indications that the killer intended it as a warning to Mack. Mack tries to assist the local sheriff’s department in investigating the crime, but the situation goes from bad to worse. Mack begins to fear for his own safety and especially the safety of his young son, Kix.

Like the subsequent books in the series that I’ve read so far, this prequel is a real page-turner and a quick read. The mystery is suspenseful, even though I did figure out the killer’s identity before Mack did. As I mentioned in another review, Mack’s self-confidence and his wit remind me of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser, but I’d have to say that Mack is more of a smartass than Spenser was. I can see how some readers may be turned off by his personality.

But Mack has definitely got a good heart. One of the themes of the book is that he feels that he lost his way for a while, and now he’s trying his best to do the right thing and be a better man and a good father.

The Last Teacher could certainly be enjoyed as a standalone novel. But if you’re interested in the very good Mackenzie August series, then I definitely recommend reading this prequel.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was somewhat disappointed as the description tended to suggest a better story line. I found the main character, Mackenzie, to have too many humorous retorts for my liking, and to be somewhat full of himself. Could maybe be explained by incidences that occurred in his recent past that he is trying to come to grips with.

[Hellena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amikor megvettem a Kindle-t, ingyenes angol nyelvű e-könyveket keresgéltem az Amazonon, így találtam többek között ezt is. Utólag örülök, hogy nem adtam érte pénzt.

Az író azzal reklámozza magát, hogy a következő 20 évben ő lesz a kedvenc krimiíród. A könyv feléig se kellett eljutnom, hogy megtudjam: ez nem így lesz. épp ellenkezőleg.

Tizenéves amerikai gyerekekre jellemző a mondatszerkesztés, az angol nyelvet a párbeszédekben nyomokban sem használja helyesen vagy igényesen, amihez ad egy „én ilyen vicces ember vagyok”-típusú kommentekkel operáló egoista, beképzelt főszereplőt, aki nem mellesleg angolt tanít egy középiskolában, csak hogy még kevésbé legyen hiteles az egész.
Kapunk még egy emberünkre gusztustalanul nyomuló hülye libát, aki mintha valami pornófilmből szabadult volna; viszolyogtam minden megnyilvánulásától – Nő (így nagybetűvel) így nem viselkedik.
Van egy rakás mellékszereplő, nagyjából a következő felosztásban: akinek libuskánk nem volt meg, az mélyen vallásos. Elvétve 1-2 féltékeny nő. És persze majdnem mindenki tanár.

Na és akkor melyik a gyilkos? A liba, az egyik ex vagy valamelyik valláskárosult? Mivel a félrevezető hadművelet sikeres volt, ezért adok még fél csillagot ahhoz képest, amit eredetileg akartam. Az utolsó harmadra megemberelte magát az író, és még érdekes is lett.
Ennek ellenére határozottan vitatkozom a szerző köszönetnyilvánításban zárójelben feltüntetett utolsó mondatával, miszerint tetszett a könyv. NEM.

[Dennis · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is awful. It almost seems as if it was written by a high schooler. The hero, Mackenzie August is a big guy , handsome, smart, and is irresistable to woman. We know this because it is mentioned an unbearable number of times. The novel is also infested with an annoying amount of what I must believe the author thinks is witty repartee. Oh, August has a 9 month old boy named after a breakfast cereal that he is raising himself. Of course the child is adorable and is loved by everyone he comes into contact with.

Don't bother with this trite novel.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every now and then you come across a book that simply riles you. I made it 15 chapters in before throwing in the towel - I can't quite put my finger on what it is about this book that annoys me so much, it is partly the constant single sentence paragraphs, also the off-centre humour that doesn't quite ring true, the backstory that is constantly referenced but never explained and the 'I am the centre of the universe' that permeates it.
Life is too short to be reading books you don't like.
It's well written but not to my taste.

[Arnaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good first volume

Enjoyed it just right. The author admitted it was his very first novel and he had no intention of releasing it at first. I agree with him that the main character Mackenzie is a likeable character and it made sense to go back to this volume, correct it here and there before publishing. It's a very decent volume for a first attempt. Just the right amount of intrigue, a solid plot, nothing too fancy. Quick and easy read :-)

[Tremont G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this 4 stars or even 4.5 if not for all the bible God stuff. I realize religion is pertinent to the storyline and it is set in the Bible Belt, but EVERYONE was quoting scripture. Too much for me, as I am agnostic and organized religion really bugs me!

[Peter Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Teacher is a prequel to the Mackenzie August series, and it answers some nagging questions I had about Mack in what I felt were very satisfying ways. The author, Alan Lee, suggests reading this book after the other Mackenzie August books, which is *kind of* what I did. (I read books 1 & 2, then started reading this, put it down and read books 3 & 4, then finished this one.) I'm glad I didn't wait any longer to read this one, though, despite Lee's suggestion to read it after all the other Mackenzie books (of which there are currently eight). I like knowing about Mack's background, as it informs how I read his character in the latter books.

In the Author's Note, Lee writes:
"…this was the first novel I wrote, and I didn’t plan on releasing it. But I love Mackenzie so much that I went back, patched it up, wrote a sequel, and released. You will probably note an improvement in craft in the next Mackenzie book."

I think I can see what Lee is saying about the "improvement in craft," but (aside from a couple typos) I probably wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't pointed it out. I suspect I would have simply attributed the writing style to Mack's younger, less mature state, especially since the story is told from his point of view.

At the end of the day, I was very satisfied with this book, and I felt it was on par with the others in the series. I highly recommend that fans of Alan Lee and/or Mackenzie August take the time to read The Last Teacher.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently, Alan Lee wrote this book first although he didn't publish it before several of his Mackenzie August mysteries. So Mack's backstory is that he played football at Radford University (my alma mater), joined the LAPD, became a youth minister who cursed in the pulpit, before teaching middle school English in South Hill, Virginia. I know some of these places. I'm looking forward to reading some of the rest of the series.

[Sam Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Mackenzie August is an ex-cop from LA looking to start over. He is accepted as an English teacher in a small town in Virginia. I love the humor, the police procedure, but most of all his son, Kix. There is a really great mystery that pulls Mackenzie back into policing, but can our hero come to grips with his past, in order to save the future?

[Norma Reasor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fourth book in series, but actually a prelude. Almost wish I had read it first. Pretty good mystery.

[Genine Franklin-Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good; I'll read another in the series.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Prequel to the Mackenzie August series; I read Book 1 before this one, which may have affected my rating to the good. I still like Mack and this story was interesting, about teaching in a middle school in the South, where our main character is the newest teacher. He discovers the body of another teacher a month or so into the school year.

I found it interesting and I did not guess the killer before the reveal, although I did not fall for the red herring -- that would have made a less satisfactory story, I think.

I'll definitely read the second book in this series and see where it leads me.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I had ever read by this author and I look forward to many more. The book was insightful, entertaining. and kept me guessing until the very end. I have often had issues reviewing books that have religious content, as my beliefs are personal and I don't like to be preached at. Success on Alan Lee's part. I did not feel the hint of discomfort and I was completely on page with his character. I absolutely adored Mackenzie... mark me down as one of the Mackenzie stalkers!!!

[✰ LEX ✰ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had a good story line, however the writing style wasn’t enjoyable for me. The constant reminder that Mack is strong, attractive, funny, and smart got annoying very quickly. I felt that his character had such a good back story but was not delved into deep enough, thus making his character feel extremely shallow, lacking in depth (which is not true, it just felt that way because it was never truly expanded on in a way that made the reader understand him more), and overall it felt like he was way in over his head. Too egotistical, sometimes even came off as insecure… Especially when he’d meet other men and hoped they weren’t funnier than him. The way women were portrayed in this book was also incredibly irritating, especially Taylor. I feel like her character could have at least been written about in a better way (again, the writing style is just not my taste), while still keeping the core aspects about her, such as her immaturity and sex maniac traits. I also felt that most of what was written about between the first and second murder was of no use in the storyline, there were many things that I feel just didn’t add anything to the essence of the book. It felt like rambling, just to make the book longer. I do however argue that rambling in a book can be necessary but only when it’s giving more definition to characters, creating a tighter plot, or giving a better understanding of relationship dynamics. All in all, I guess what I’m saying is that the writing felt shallow. Storyline was great, execution wasn’t.

[David Mc · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a former teacher and voracious reader of mystery/detective novels, this book appealed to me. However, one of the biggest mysteries was how the book ever received such rave reviews, as well as why I read this novel to the end. Overall, I felt the novel was very poorly written, which included plenty of dialogue that could have been written by a young, struggling adolescent. For that matter, the non-stop wisecracks of the protagonist became draining after a few chapters, along with the never-ending comments about his “handsome” looks. The only times my interest perked up was when another of his colleagues was murdered by a mysterious killer. Fortunately, the novel was a short one; otherwise, I would have tossed in the towel before completing the book.

[Teigan · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I first came across The Last Teacher, I was thoroughly intrigued and had high expectations. The blurb showed it to be a promising book about a protagonist with a unique backstory. The idea of an ex-police officer—now a teacher on the hunt to catch a killer while also juggling the responsibilities that came with being a single father and his new job—coloured me intrigued.

However, despite my usual love for a good murder mystery, this isn’t something I would want to read again or recommend to others. In all honesty, the only reason I finished it was because I always see books through to the end, no matter how little I enjoy them. I feel it was a combination of the writing style, the characters, and the storytelling itself that caused my dissatisfaction. I do love the concept of the story, although it felt poorly executed.

The writing was very simplistic and lacked any depth, which in turn affected the portrayal of the characters. Personally, I do not have any issues with simple, non-descriptive writing. However, this felt as though it lacked any personality or uniqueness. It was very basic and made certain parts feel rushed and insignificant when they were actually meant to be important aspects of the story. Much of it felt like I was reading a list of everything Mack did, which made me feel bored and disconnected from the book.

As well as that, the simplicity prevented me as the reader, from having a deeper understanding of the story and characters, as hardly anything had any real depth. No one seemed to be that affected by the murders, and if they were, it was mentioned very briefly and brushed over as if everyone had the emotional range of a teaspoon. Another issue that made it difficult to read was how religion-heavy the entire book was. I understand that considering where it was set, religion was going to be a big aspect; however, it felt like every other character was extremely religious and spent all of their time preaching. There were far too many conversations based on faith, and it really took away from the whole murder mystery, thriller aspect of the book.

In addition to that, the characters came across as shallow, surface-level stereotypes, especially the women, who had no originality. Considering this is supposed to be a murder mystery, none of the characters were developed enough to be deemed real suspects. I felt there was no connection between them and me as the reader, which led me to not care if anything happened to them. As a writer, one of the most important things is to ensure the readers feel something toward each character. However, in The Last Teacher, most of them felt insignificant and as though they were just there for the sake of it. The only character I actually liked was the baby, who had the misfortune of being named Kix.

One of the characters I had the most problems with and was the biggest stereotype was Taylor. Anytime she was present, she really rubbed me the wrong way. She was your stereotypical attractive woman whose only personality trait was being attractive and getting with any guy she fancied. I hated how her only purpose was to be a potential love interest for Mack. Her character was a huge waste since she was never expanded on further than being pretty and flirtatious, despite having other likeable attributes such as her intelligence. My main issue was her clothing and where she wore it. There is a time and place for everything, but apparently, this didn’t apply to her. Why was she always wearing extremely revealing clothes at work where she teaches children? It was stated on multiple occasions that her skirt was so short you could hardly see it or how low-cut her top was, and yet when she was with a group of adult friends, she was described as having much more casual attire. This was one of those times when you can easily tell a female character was written by a man.

One of the biggest issues with the book, for me, was that the protagonist was so dislikeable. At the beginning, I thought Mack was funny and seemed to have a lot of potential to be a good main character. However, as the story progressed, that likeness for him quickly vanished. The humour he had at the start was not the same throughout the rest of the book. It was way too overused, and it felt like every other sentence was Mackenzie talking about how funny he thought he was. This, in turn, caused all comedic effects to lose their impact and became annoying fairly quickly. This was similar to his supposed attractiveness; the number of times it was mentioned was absurd, and Mack just came across as a very cocky character overall. I also felt that he had way too much plot armour, and it didn’t make him seem human enough to properly relate to him. It seemed as though he knew everything and was invincible. The only time he sustained any injuries was when he wanted to be hurt, and even then, it was only something minor.

Although I will give credit to the aspects I liked about Mackenzie, since he did have a couple of redeeming qualities. In my opinion, the most likable part about his character was how strong his morals were and how well he stuck to them. I enjoyed seeing how determined he was to catch the killer, even though it wasn’t his job, as well as how he had no issue stopping other low-profile criminals. Mack’s most favourable trait was how committed he was to his son, Kix, and being a good dad for him. This went as far as turning down the woman he fancied and changing his approach to stopping the killer in case Kix got hurt or worse. His protective side and love for his son were definitely the main reasons for me not entirely hating his character.

Despite all of this, the part that really irked me was the sudden use of slurs at the end of the book. (I am not going to name which character said them to prevent spoilers.) I was completely shocked when I read that part of the story since they came completely out of the blue and were used multiple times. They were so unnecessary and made the entire interaction deeply uncomfortable. I felt as though this then caused the confrontation between Mack and the killer to lose its impact. This moment was supposed to be tense and suspenseful, but instead, it made me feel icky, and I just wanted the whole exchange to be over. I understand that part of the killer’s character was that he disliked those groups of people and anyone he considered a ‘sinner’; however, there are plenty of ways to express this without using slurs.

Overall, The Last Teacher is not something I will read again and has certainly put me off from the rest of the series.

[Diana Wanek · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected at all. At times it put me to sleep and other times I questioned why was a continuing to read it. I am not sure what genre it is but lots of references to Christians and the Bible but very confusing references that didn't match the story. I thought there would be more murder mystery and suspense with the main character trying to solve the crime but more time was spent on dialog that was hard to track who was saying what. Too much craziness about how teachers teach, talk and spend their prep period. No teacher has enough time to waste a prep period let alone go to talk with others and put their feet up. Maybe the author needs to walk in the shoes of a teacher before writing about them. The other characters seemed unbelievable too. The lady teacher Taylor coming on to every one in the book and sleeping around wanting to have sex during her prep period. Toward the end of the book the murder suspect broke into the main characters home who had a bedroom over a garage but his son's room was directly across the hall and on the first floor! The murder had to come up the stairs to get to the bedrooms. How do I picture this! Maybe it was just me and you will like this book more than I did but I'm not headed into the next 6 books book.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was poorly written and very unappealing. The main character was not someone I could relate to at all, and didn't seem very self-consistent. The author took waaaaay too long to explain the character's story and why he was in the situation he was in. The story itself felt like the author couldn't decide if he wanted to write a cozy mystery, an action novel, or emulate a Dashiell Hammett novel. I kept getting these little Sam Spade quips in there. It just wound up being annoying. The description of the main character's baby was also distracting. At one point, the main character is trying to get the baby to learn how to crawl, at another point, he's holding the baby's finger as he walks into another room with him. It just felt like the baby was there as a plot device but not as a real person. He was just something to give the main character an excuse to act differently, but didn't exist otherwise.
Meh. Overall a very disappointing read. I was expecting a great deal more, but it came off as if this were Alan Lee's first novel and he hadn't learned yet how to write a godo story. Obviously, this is not Lee's first foray. He's an accomplished author. This book was just a poor example of his art, though.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK

I hate when authors do this to me (kinda). I read the first book and enjoyed it so much that I had to read the rest of the series. Here I am up at 4 AM (again) because I stayed up to finish the last book. Sigh. But Mac is such an engaging character. I just like him! I also admire an author who can write about bringing felons to justice without making the main character a "gritty ex-cop" cliché. Mac is well-read, funny (witty or immature depending to the situation), improving his morals, and cares about people. He doesn't even drive a cool car!

I made the mistake of laughing out loud, read parts to my husband, and now he wants to read these books, too. I have stuff for him to do! One of us has to keep the house together, and I have to read the Sinatra series to find out what happens next.

Do yourself a favor and do not read this book. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[Evelyn Grabas · Rating 5 out of 5]

As per usual, the book was great. Anyone who is interested in murder mysteries that contain a bit of comedy, a smattering of romance and a great mystery should definitely invest in the Mackenzie August series. I look forward to each and every one of them. Aside from Mac, who is just superb, there are so many interesting characters that bring intrigue, brain challenging dilemmas that keep you on your toes and just overall add to the enjoyment of each and every page.
Unfortunately, I have one small problem that has bothered me through several books now. Why, why would Mac subject his son to a life that consists of endless teasing by naming him after a box of cereal? The name Kix August is certainly not a monika that I think anyone would like to carry around for life. I thought he loved his little boy. That name would not support that contention.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Lee's books are a delight. This is the 3rd but not last Mackenie August book I'll read. Although it was written first and published later, this prequel helps set the stage for the series. I am delighted to say that his style and plots seem to me to have improved with each book and I will continue to follow him and read August's further adventures. His cast of characters grows and fills out with ensuing stories. They are all a little quirky but great additions to the book. There were too many quips for me in the first couple books but his style and sensitivity grow with each new effort.
It is an enjoyable read. It gives some basic background to Mack but isn't necessary to understand him

[Black Butterfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ½ *stars REALLY
I REALLY LOVED THE MAIN CHARACTER’S NAME, MAKENZIE AUGUST, SO COOL. HE SEEMED LIKE A NICE PERSON IF ONLY HE DID’NT HAVE SUCH A SMART MOUTH, WHICH, AT TIMES WAS JUST TOO MUCH. DON’T GET ME WRONG, I THINK HE WAS A FUNNY GUY AT TIMES HE NEEDS TO TONE IT DOWN SOMETIMES. BABY KIX STOLE EVERY SCENE HE WAS IN, WHAT AN ADORABLE LITTLE BOY. I ENJOYED THIS, WITH ALL THAT SEEMS TO BE WRONG IN THE WORLD (C-19), I NEEDED SOMETHING UPLIFTING.;D
**THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I READ THIS BOOK, I READ IT DURING THE PANDEMIC 2020, AND NEEDED TO REFRESH MY MEMORY. IT WAS BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND. ;D

[Jodi Pomerleau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, especially the character of the quick witted, sarcastic Mack. He is a man of moral integrity who could be swayed by the wiles of a wickedly beautiful girl, but resists. The mystery is okay, heavy on the religious aspect and light on the tension, though there are 2 particular incidences that made my heart pound. I just wondered why they never investigated the computer back ups to find out who was sending the emails. That should have cleared everything up. The final showdown could have been more interesting. I look forward to more of Mack and Kix.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Just needed a bit of action. This book starts out quick witted, with some long lulls before the final set. I love the father son relationship and chat and the self deprecating humour. It pushed it higher. Story is simple but enough to consider the next one.

Some gems I highlighted mostly from his conversation with his father, Stephen the kid and Mr. Suhr. Love the neighbours.

Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.”

Wit is educated insolence, you know.”

I found my self-worth in the eyes of the people I impressed with superficial achievements. When that faltered, so did my worth to the world and to myself. I became less of a man.”

I’m still not sure exactly whose opinion I valued so much or who I was trying so hard to impress.

The threat of growing up has done in mightier men than you. A lot of guys put off maturity by tying themselves to a snowboard, living on a mountain, and refusing to accept responsibility for anything after graduation.”

Running from responsibility, running from failure.”

What’s your evaluation of your time in California? What was good, what was destructive, what was both.”

Every so often, though, we had this talk. I verbalized my mental processes, reflected on growth, admitted problem areas. He listened, commented, approved, and helped me mature.

My life was my job, though. Everything else suffered. I had nothing. No one cared about me, including myself, no hobbies.

An eight-year blur of pain and self-doubt. I won every award, got every promotion, slept with every girl I saw, drank all the time, beat all the people I wanted to beat. And all of it fell like bags of cement at my feet. Worthless, dead weight. Hollow. I was the most arrogant and insecure and lonely person I knew.”

They were a cistern for me, where I put a lot of energy, time, and self-worth. Except it didn’t hold water. Doesn’t work. Never fills. Leaves you empty inside

Fun isn’t the goal. Fun leaks

You can learn about loyalty, bravery, honor, courage, discipline, friendship by reading them. Or watching them.”

America does not discuss the soul, because capitalism needs superficiality.

They are different than you, but not less valuable.”

The Lord is a warrior, not a fighter. A warrior keeps peace, and only fights for good when necessary.”

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a prequel! I've read all 12 (so far) of the MacKenzie August series and I'm loving it so much I hope Alan Lee publishes the next one soon. I had to read this prequel because there were events referenced in the following 12 books that had obviously happened previously, so I was pleased to find there was a book in which at least most of those events in MacKenzie's past were explained. Having left the LA homicide department after solving a grisly murder case, his partner died in his arms, his partner's wife then died in childbirth and then MacKenzie's girlfriend was killed. Left on!y with his biological baby son, Kix, he decided on a complete change and, having the qualification, became a middle school teacher. He's good at it and enjoyes it - until the bodies start turning up. The last part of this book really bad me on the edge of my seat!
I love the character of MacKenzie and, in subsequent books, his father, best friend Manny and others in this universe that Alan Lee has created, and the stories are interesting - sometimes hair raising. I would recommend this series to anyone, and also the Sinatra series, of which there are currently 5, and the Stackhouse (The girl who would be Sheriff) of which there are currently 3. Both are spin off books about characters close to "The August Boys" and interesting in their own right

[Scot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started the Mackenzie August detective series with this prequel (I like to start at the beginning and work my way through) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lee knows what he is doing with plot construction, timing, rhythm of dialogue. The protagonist is almost too good to be true; he is the total package: a former college football player who also majored in English, a former CHiPs then LAPD cop with successful experience in bringing down gang lords, good looking to the ladies, MMA champ, and witty as hell. He is seemingly arrogant, but in a charming way that is just a cover for the true moral gentleman and defender of the marginalized and downtrodden that lies just beneath the surface of his glib persona. He is also a single parent father to an adorable baby named Kix.

In this novel. Mack takes a job at a middle school in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. After another teacher gets murdered at the school he gets pulled into the investigation. The parts about life and classes at the middle school was just as entertaining as the murder investigation sections. I really like this author; this is a higher caliber of writing than is often found in Kindle freebies and I intend to read the whole series. Thank you, Alan Lee, for creating this character!